January 25, 2013

your space or mine

As I mentioned on my 2013 goal list, redoing the girls’ room is on the agenda this year. So naturally Pinterest and I have kid rooms on the brain.

Amelia (5) and I have had many talks about not decorating around ‘phases’. That although you may be really into Dora right now, you don’t want to decorate your entire room around Dora because when that phase passes, you’ll have a lot of changing to do. Not only a good lesson and true, but also gets me out of saying “hell no, I’m not doing a whole room around Dora”. Sorry Nick Jr.

Whenever you hear designers talk about rooms for children they always talk about not getting too ‘themey’. Design a room that will, let’s say it all together now, grow with your child. And while I completely agree with that I worry that sometimes it can give crazy moms like me a free ticket out of including the kids' in the room at all.

Of course my idea of a wonderful room is light years away from what the girls would pick. I'm loving a big layered bed with lots of pattern and Amelia wants Tinkerbell sheets. I'd love some really colorful abstract art on the wall and Eve wants pictures of Hello Kitty. And a light up Barbie is not my idea of killer lighting.

But I do want the girls' to feel like it is indeed their room. I want them to want to be in there. I want them to feel comfortable with and proud of their space, just as I would want for any adult that I work with. So I might have to bend in some areas and pick my battles. Which is true in every aspect of parenting, isn't it? And after all, we adults go through phases as well. We just call them trends.

Do you think it's possible to achieve a room that is well designed but also represents the kid(s) who lives there? Do you go with ‘last until they’re a teenager’ school of thought? Or are you more of a ‘we’ll refresh it in a few years’ person?

24 comments:

I never lock myself into decor for an extended period of time because I know myself too well but I do like to try to pick things that aren't age/theme-specific. Have you been to Urban Wall Decals...just saw them on Pinterest and they have some cute options for a kid room!

So admittedly, Wells is too young to voice much opinion so I'm not sure if this will still work when she's older. But, I will be decorating her room forever with only minimal input. Walls will be white or light grey with basic white bedding. She'll get to choose whatever heinous sheets and pajamas she wants. That's right, under her fabulous decor will be hidden gems speaking right to her.

Hello Dora, is that you? Yes! It's me, Wells.

Plus we'll work in her favorite colors with throw pillow and blankets and she'll get a bulletin board or two to fill up with her own art or stickers or whatever crap she likes. I'm doing her big girl room all on my own but if we change it in the future I'll bring home samples that are all ones I can live with to let her pick or mix and match so she feels a part of the process. I don't want to just be the dictator, I want to teach her good taste!

Add in her giant dollhouse and babies and toys and her blankies and herself and we will have a room that is totally her but one that I can be excited about and happy to put back together each day. And a neon pink room with Beat Band bedding just ain't it ;)

I have a bit of a different view. When I look back at my "rooms" when I was young, it makes me so happy that my parents let me have the "say". I have told many people that one of the greatest gifts my parents gave me was the control over my room. There was never pressure to clean it....and it was a S&%# hole sometimes. They just closed the door. I try to remember that when it comes to my kids rooms. I don't want them sitting at college telling all there friends how their mom was always nagging them about their rooms.

Ugh! Hate theme rooms! Maybe you should each come up with a list of things you want and compromise...Tinkerbell sheets? Fine, just make sure her bed is made every morning with a fabulous looking duvet!!

This is definitely a tough one! When picking a paint color, how about showing them a bunch of 'mommy loves' options and having them pick? That way, they feel like they have chosen, but you already like all options too. And maybe, the sheets and a couple small pillows can be tinkerbell and hello kitty, and the rest of the bedding is more neutral. The artwork on the walls can be framed pieces that they have painted, but in cool frames that you like? Good luck! :)

We have 2 childrens room clients right now and have this same mindset. Gotta design something that might take them 5-10 years further. Love alot of the elments in these images. Thanks for the inspiration. Have a great weekend Elizabeth!xo NancyPowellbrowerhome.com

I absolutely think it's possible to create a well designed room that also represents the kids living there. Sometimes, it's in choosing large pieces (furniture, flooring, etc) that are classic, but then mixing it up with fabrics and art. For example, if you loooooove Dora (and, I mean, who doesn't?), you could use some Dora books as artwork, framed with large white mats to make them look a bit... uh... better. And maybe part of what you love about Dora is the orange and pink colour combo. Run with it!!! My Elliott is a bit of a nerd and he loves bugs and science-y stuff, so I framed some vintage entomology drawings, found some old chemical jars and used his mircoscope as an accessory. This is a really long comment, but you get what I'm saying. Your girls will be thrilled as long as you bring in a little of the things they love too!

I think you have it all covered! For kids rooms I like to start with furniture that will last, but will grow with them. I have my 3 year old in a full size bed. It is way to big for him, but he will grow and it will be perfect! If you put anything in there that is themed... make sure it can be removed! I know you will do an amazing job for her!

I am a FOR SURE refresh in a few years..I dont believe you can create a room that lasts from 3 until 18 and still fit the childs personality...although..that may just be the designer in me that loves to change a space ;)

I think I may have it easier with Cole since I tend to like "boy" things more than "girl" things, but I think that if there is a theme is is more astronomy or sailing, etc than a particular character. Then you can bring in more classic design elements like Meg said above. Maybe if Amelia really likes Dora, then you can focus more on the "explorer" part and incorporate items that reflect that. I do think children love having their opinions valued, but getting to make any decision (like between 2 paint colors you like) will make them feel that way.

Growing up, my mom letredo my room pretty often, which is probably why I'm comfortable changing all the rooms in my grown up house. I have no fear of paint colors. My mom did have some rules. No posters on the walls was a big one. I loved strawberry shortcake as a kid, and I had the sheets, which didn't show when the bed was made up. I remember wanting a pink room, so my mom chose a pink that didn't look pepto. She probably made a lot of the design choices, but I felt like I was the one making them.

well Elizabeth, I think that the time goes by so fast that it is fun to incorporate a teeny part of their wants along with your ideas. You don't want them resenting you either, right? The baby room with the cool IKEA lamp from the ceiling [pic #5] could be a starting off point with her tinkerbell sheets, for example. I mean, what do I know? But I am a back yard [is that the right term?] [as in tries my hand at it] decorator and have tried my hand at some stuff. I helped my daughter decorate her oldest daughters room when she was 5. We did it in lavender and pink and she had one poster of the Disney Princesses and the rest was just cute little girl stuff. She L.O.V.E.D. it!!!! Today she is 10 and they have a bigger home and her room is in browns and pinks and not one princess in it except HER! awh~ ~ ~

What a great post Elizabeth! So much food for thought. I have definitely taken advantage of the fact that my boys don't seem to really care what their room looks like as long as it contains their legos. Not sure how that will work with my 2 year old though as I think she will be much more opinionated. I also don't necessarily do themes but I always plan to reinvent or at least freshen up every few years. Love your images in this one too!

I think that it's a good idea to make sure the basic pieces like furniture are pieces that will last a long time and look good. It's easy to change out bedding and accessories. Also, to include the girls in the room design, give them choices between pieces that you already like. Which of the three bedding sets you like do the girls like the best? If the girls really want Tinkerbelle, incorporate it in a different way like a framed movie still along with other framed pictures or put a secret Tinkerbelle appliqué on the underside of a blanket or duvet.

Struggling with this as well because I've already started day-dreaming about Hannah's big girl room in my head and she's only 6 months old!! I would echo what many others have said - investing in furniture that will grow with them, giving them options you like and letting them choose, and letting them bring in affordable accessories that speak to whatever phase they're in. I definitely think it's important to include them and let them have a say in the space, since it's their room, but it's also your house ;)

Oooh it's a tough one but I think the suggestions of incorporating bits of what she likes in things that can easily be changed as she grows, giving her the choice between options that you like and ensuring your 'big ticket' items are classics are all good ones. That second image is just crazy perfection, love it! xxx

I personally have 5 kids. Four of them are girls! In our house we don't go more than a year without someone switching rooms with someone else and that means new wall color and sometimes new bedding as well. I try to keep big purchases to a minimum :) My son is the only one who is still in the same room he started out in when we moved in. I have 2 teens only a year away from college so I am interested to see how that will all change when they leave.

Great post and just in time. I've spent too much time this week looking at bedding and beds and pinterest for a big girl room.

I'm trying to do a balance of what my 2 1/2 year old says she wants with what won't be immediately offensive when she's an oh-so-mature 6 year old.

But I also remember being little (probably 1st grade) and begging my mom to give me purple walls for my room and she wouldn't. And the room was always clearly designed by an adult. Pretty, sure, but what middle schooler wants their christening gown in a frame and a toddler portrait of their great grandmother above their bed?

I want my daughter's room to be in good taste but I don't want to use her room design as an exclusive outlet for my design creativity (which I think happened when I was the little one).